Adventure guide
Fancy some sea kayaking? Keen on Costa Rica? What about Wales? Choose your own adventure with our guide.
Lake and river kayaking guide
There really is nothing better than messing around in boats. Landscapes look very different at this level. Even the most boring river is made more exciting by overhanging branches and willows that form curtains of leaves across your path. Reeds reach up high above your head on either side and damselflies flit around your face as you look for a way through the foliage to follow the wild path of the water.
Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.![]()
– The Wind in the Willows
Without the wider view from above, however, there’s a risk of feeling a little lost on your own. That’s why booking a tour with local guides, who know the waterways by heart, is the best way of seeing the bigger picture. Lake and river kayaking trips can be very varied – but what they all share are passionate, knowledgeable guides with the expertise to quickly get you paddling and provide you with a unique perspective of a place. Keep reading our lake and river kayaking guide to find out more.
Do go on a lake or river kayaking vacation if…
Don’t go on a lake or river kayaking vacation if….
Dordogne canoeing vacation in France
Explore one of France's most interesting waterways
From
£1399 to £1469
9 days
ex flights
Douro valley by kayak vacation, across Portugal
Kayak across Portugal on the Douro River
From
€3370
10 days
ex flights
Multi activity short break in Ireland
Outdoor activities, glamping, Irish nature paradise escape
From
€399
4 days
ex flights
Kayaking vacation in Patagonia, 4 days
Explore the wilderness of Patagonia's Lake District
From
£630
4 days
ex flights
Kayaking in the Keralan Backwaters
Experience local life and kayaking through Kerala backwaters
From
US $430
3 days
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3 day cycle and kayak in Sarawak
Explore Borneo by bike, from mountains to beaches.
From
MYR 3800
3 days
ex flights
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What does a lake or river kayaking vacation entail?
There are many different ways to get out on the water. You could be using a sea kayak to cruise down rivers, splashing about in an open top kayak, or exploring a lake with an inflatable and a tent. You could take the kids away on a family-friendly canoeing vacation or discover the thrill of white water kayaking.
“The boats you use are actually very important depending on what you’re going to be doing. If you get the wrong kind of boat it could completely ruin the experience,” explains Ben Heywood, co-founder of our adventure travel specialists Undiscovered Montenegro. “We’re very careful to make sure that the boats we have are suitable for the purpose they’re being used for.”
It’s one of many reasons why you should choose a kayaking vacation that’s organised by trained and qualified leaders. Some will tailor your tour to your exact specifications, others offer small, friendly group tours with a good ratio of guides to paddlers. Many trips are open to all levels, including novices – something you may want to bear in mind if you’re more experienced. But, as with any adventure vacation, a minimum level of fitness is often required and groups are usually arranged depending on ability.
“The boats you use are actually very important depending on what you’re going to be doing. If you get the wrong kind of boat it could completely ruin the experience,” explains Ben Heywood, co-founder of our adventure travel specialists Undiscovered Montenegro. “We’re very careful to make sure that the boats we have are suitable for the purpose they’re being used for.”
It’s one of many reasons why you should choose a kayaking vacation that’s organised by trained and qualified leaders. Some will tailor your tour to your exact specifications, others offer small, friendly group tours with a good ratio of guides to paddlers. Many trips are open to all levels, including novices – something you may want to bear in mind if you’re more experienced. But, as with any adventure vacation, a minimum level of fitness is often required and groups are usually arranged depending on ability.
Best time to go
The best time to go on a lake or river kayaking vacation can often depend on where you want to go and how leisurely you want your trip to be. River paddling in particular is dependent on the weather – wet autumns and winters in Europe mean higher water levels, faster flows and bigger rapids that you might want for white water kayaking.
For more relaxed river paddling, like a family canoeing vacation in the Dordogne or multi-day tours in Montenegro or Croatia, you’ll find the warm summer months are best. Similarly, if you want to go somewhere a little further afield, like India or Madagascar, the warmer winter weather (and water) is best for multi-day paddle expeditions.
More Lake and river kayaking articles
Kayaking expeditions and camping adventures can be a good way to explore a new country.
One of Europe’s last true wildernesses, kayaking in Montenegro will appeal to everyone.
Arguably the best, and most relaxing way, to explore the Dordogne region of France is via its lovely river.
Rwanda's green landscapes are very hilly, but they're threaded with rivers - so, go by kayak instead for a relaxing trip.
Kayaking along the Douro is a great way to enjoy the wine-land from the waterline.
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